Funk Brother Jack Ashford - YELLOW GO

Presenting…..
Funk Brother Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford states in his monologue on stage ‘there are many Funk
Brothers, as that was not their name during the Berry Gordy/Motown
years’. That name was created following the success of the award
winning feature documentary film of 2002 entitled ‘Standing in the
Shadows of Motown’. Musicians involved in the Funk Brothers have
formed their own spin-off, in a similar vein to other legendary groups
The Temptations and The Supremes. This Funk Brother Jack Ashford
band is the last of that era in its original form.
Two Time Grammy Winner Jack Ashford is the virtuoso whose vibes
and tambourine made the Original Motown Sound, having also won Life
Time Achievement Award. His performance on almost every Motown
hit during the 60’s and 70’s was generated in the ‘Snake Pit’ and
although much copied, his delivery is unique. Jack was born in
Philadelphia in 1936. By the age of 32, he had started working for
Motown, as one of Berry Gordy’s session musicians. Over the next few
years he toured with most of the famous artists of that label, including
Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas,
calling themselves the Motown Review. In fact it was Marvin Gaye who
requested that Jack join Motown originally, when Marvin discovered
Jack playing the vibes in an organ trio in Boston. Jack went on to be
their most prolific percussionist, playing more than a dozen traditional
percussion instruments as well as some more obscure instruments such
as knee slaps, foot stomps and his own invention, the hotel sheet.
Angelo Starr (real name: Angelo Hatcher) is the brother of singer
Edwin Starr and backed his brother for many years. Jack Ashford was
at Motown when Angelo’s brother was major recording artist there; in
fact the hit ‘War’ includes his tambourine. When Edwin Starr passed
away in 2003, Angelo stepped forward to front Edwin’s band ‘The
Team’. When UK producer Ian Levine heard Angelo's similarity to
Edwin (whom Levine had recorded for his Motorcity Records project in
the early 90s), he offered him a record deal, and Angelo Starr did the
opening track "Stand on My Own Two Feet" for Levine's Northern Soul
2007 album.
Joseph ‘Foley’ McCreary aka Foley played bass guitar for Miles Davis
from 1987-1991. He is featured on his albums Amandla, Dingo Live
Around The World and The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux.
The Motown recording artist came to Jack Ashford’s attention during
November 2007 when he was George Clinton’s drummer and the Funk
Brothers were the opening group. Foley went on to perform with Funk
Brother Jack Ashford because of his love for James Jamerson’s bass
playing with the original studio band.
Foley has performed on stage with Lenny White, Marcus Miller, Res,
Fishbone, Arrested Development, Macy Gray, Mint Condition, Prince,
Davina, Kenny Garrett, Santana, Alice in Chains, Foreigner, Monica
and Primus.
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DVD & BOOK
• 2002
• 2005
STANDING IN THE SHADOW OF MOTOWN •
MOTOWN :THE VIEW FROM THE BOTTOM
ARTISAN ENTERTAINMENT
BANK HOUSE BOOKS
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